Trump says he will stick with tradition, live in White House

One of President-elect Donald Trump's main positions that snagged him the election was the fact he was not a politician. His promise to "drain the swamp" was one of the many moves our nation had never seen before from a presidential candidate.

Author:
Andie Judson

Published:
8:23 AM EST November 22, 2016

Updated:
9:07 AM EST November 22, 2016

One of President-elect Donald Trump's main positions that snagged him the election was the fact he was not a politician. His promise to "drain the swamp" was one of the many moves our nation had never seen before from a presidential candidate.

Trump's campaign was like no other from the start, and his uniqueness will certainly not stop at the White House.

Or wherever he will live.

Reports of Trump's theme of breaking with tradition have circled concerning his residency.

The business mogul is reportedly a homebody and The New York Times previously reported that Trump was talking to his advisers about living part time throughout his presidency in his New York City residence in the Trump Tower.

"He has told them he would like to do what he is used to, which is spending time in New York when he can," and that his advisers say Trump might spend most of the week in Washington and "return to Trump Tower or his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., or his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on weekends," the New York Times reports.

However, CNN said Monday that Trump told reporters he plans on living in the White House after he takes the oath of office, but wife Melanie and 10-year-old son Barron will remain in New York to "allow their son to finish out the year at the same school."

When asked by reporters at his golf club in Bedminister, New Jersey, if he would follow tradition and live in the house that presidents before him have, he said, "Yes, White House."

But Trump will not be accompanied by wife Melanie and 10-year-old son, Barron.

CNN reported that transition spokesman Jason Miller said, "No official statement has been released by the Trump family regarding transition timing, but like any parents they are concerned about pulling their 10-year-old son out of school in the middle of the year."

Striving for normalcy isn't anything new for an incoming President.

Shortly after being elected, President Obama told USA Today he was initially concerned that the commander-in-chief position would mean less family time. However, he was pleasantly surprised saying that living in the White House "was really the first time since the girls were born that we've been able to gather as a family almost every night."

Both President Obama and President-elect Trump faced the same situation of moving their children to D.C. while transitioning into the presidency.

The New York Times says the Obama's had initial concern about disrupting their daughters' school years in 2009, "but the whole family moved in the day of the inaugural."

Whether or not Trump plans on spending the weekends at one of his properties, as the New York Times reported, was not addressed.

There is no law requiring the U.S. President to live in the White House, more so, the decision to do so is for tradition, ease and safety. Living elsewhere may be a big headache for the Secret Service who, according to ABC News, regard the White House as a "fortress" with multiple lines of defense.

According to the White House's website, George Washington was the only U.S. president to not live in the White House as it was being built during part of his presidency.